ESPN Predicts Break Out Season in 2014-15 for @LATechHoopsSeth Greenberg named the Bulldogs one of six teams that are poised to break out

June 9, 2014

RUSTON - After combining for 56 wins, two conference regular season titles and two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament in the past two seasons, it is partly no surprise that head coach Michael White and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are garnering preseason national pub for the upcoming 2014-15 season.

After being projected as the 50th best team in the country heading into next year by ESPN, analyst Seth Greenberg, a former head coach at Virginia Tech, South Florida and Long Beach State, went a step further naming the Bulldogs one of six teams he thinks is poised to break out.

"Coach White has been knocking on the door of the NCAA Tournament for the past two seasons," said Greenberg. "Last season they had wins on the road at Oklahoma and Georgia. Despite losing four seniors, this is a team that fits the criteria for a breakthrough group.

"They play hard, physical and have one of the best guards in the country in Kenneth Smith. He is joined by returning leading-scorer Alex Hamilton and hard-playing and athletic wing in Raheem Appleby."

The three all-conference guards join two-time all-defensive forward Michale Kyser as returning starters, a group that has played in a whopping 369 games with 258 starts between them.

Joining them will be forwards Leo Edwards and Erik McCree, two players who sat out last season for the `Dogs, and seven athletic newcomers.

Leading the charge will once again be coach White who enters his fourth season at the helm. White has already amassed 74 wins and multiple coach of the year honors.

ESPN's Jeff Goodman and Jay Bilas named White as the No. 1 up-and-coming head coach in college basketball. The global sports network is also in the process of listing its top 50 head coaches in the country and even though White did not make the cut, Fran Franschilla thinks he will be deserving of a spot on the top 50 list very soon.

"White has rebuilt the Bulldogs program and is already one of the hottest young coaches in the country," said Franschilla.

For complete coverage of Bulldog Basketball, please follow @LATechHoops on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at www.LATechSports.com.